Income support: Sukhbir rubbing salt into farmers’ wounds, says Amarinder
Tuesday, 05/02/2019
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CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday accused Shiromani Akali DAL (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal of rubbing salt on the wounds of farmers by seeking to double the “ludicrous relief” announced by the Centre for them.
The CM’s remark comes in response to Sukhbir’s demand for raising the income support to farmers to Rs 12,000 per year.
Terming his demand as ridiculous, Amarinder asked Sukhbir why he had not spoken up for the farmers all these years despite his SAD being a part of the ruling alliance at the Centre.
The central government has made a mockery of farmers by announcing a meager Rs 6000 aid a year, which amounted to Rs 17 per day, to support them in their distress, the CM said.
He alleged that the SAD president has added to the insult with his “shameless” demand.
“Does he really believe a thousand rupees a month will help the beleaguered farmers, many of whom are being driven to suicide as a result of their massive debts, running into lakhs of rupees in several cases?” asked Amarinder.
Unlike the previous SAD-BJP government, which had failed to give a penny to the distressed farmers during its 10-year rule, the Congress government has already waived off over Rs 4,514 crore of loans of 5.63 lakh small and marginal farmers in the state, the CM pointed out.
He said if the Centre is really interested in helping farmers, it should announce a one-time waiver of their loans and ensure remunerative prices for their produce by implementing the Swaminanthan Committee report in toto.
